Statement by the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 10, 2007) -

The Government of Canada has been working to solve the critical shortage ofmedical isotopes caused by an extended shutdown at the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) research reactor in Chalk River. This shutdown has caused the delay or cancellation of certain medical procedures in Canada and abroad.

We understand and are concerned about the stress and worry that this situation is causing to patients and their loved ones.

The Government has been in constant contact with AECL and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to ensure that they work together to find a solution to this critical shortage. Resuming this production is an immediate priority for the Government of Canada and we are exploring all options at our disposal that would lead to such a resolution.

We have been working with our officials as well as national and international partners to identify alternative sources of supply in other countries; other isotopes that can be re-applied; and other diagnostic options which may be available.

We can report actions in the following areas:

- Health Canada has initiated a data collection process which includes contacting 800 hospitals and clinics which will allow all of us to determine next steps that may be necessary to address the situation.

- Government has asked both Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the CNSC to continue to work together to develop a go-forward strategy such that AECL National Research Universal reactor can be safely restarted as quickly as possible.

- Government has confirmed that the parts and equipment required to complete the upgrade maintenance on the Chalk River facility has been expedited.

- This is a situation that affects all Canadians and we are committed to working with our partners to bring it to a speedy resolution.Attached are letters from Ministers Lunn and Clement to CNSC and AECL to this effect.

We are writing to you to express our strong concern that AECL allowed theNRU at Chalk River to become out of compliance with its operating licence.The extended outage at Chalk River and the late notification to theGovernment of Canada of this situation have created serious shortages ofmedical isotopes in Canada and around the world. The health of Canadiansis being put at significant risk. We are asking you to find an urgent pathforward to re-start the NRU reactor safely.

AECL has reported over the last few days that it believes there is a strongsafety case to be made that the reactor could resume operation safely on atemporary basis with one of the two pumps enabling an early return toservice. First and foremost, we need your absolute assurance that thesafety case you have made is a valid one. We are aware that you havesubmitted a safety case to CNSC and understand that there is furtherinformation required. We need you to work constructively with theregulator on an urgent basis to provide this information to allow anexpedited review by the regulator.

We know that the outage of the NRU is an urgent priority for AECL and as aresult we expect that you are working effectively and expeditiously withthe CNSC. We are aware that you are preparing the reactor for restart. Weunderstand that the first pump will be installed today and that you willcontinue to dedicate around-the-clock effort to complete this work.

You should bear in mind that any significant delays in restartingoperations of the NRU reactor will have serious consequences for thediagnosis and treatment of cancer and heart disease around the world. Dr.Brian Day, President of the Canadian Medical Association, has indicatedthat the CMA is "very concerned about the impact on the health of Canadiansand of all those reliant for isotopes on the NRU reactor. In balancingrelative risk, it is important to ensure that the serious and immediatehuman health consequences of the isotope shortage are fully taken intoaccount."

Health Canada has contacted nearly 800 facilities across Canada to assessthe extent, severity and implications of the shortage. Preliminaryinformation has indicated that many institutions have very limited suppliesand some centres are focusing on emergency patients only. Healthimplications include delays in diagnosis and therapy, focus on emergencyand limited elective surgeries and increased wait times for diagnosticprocedures. A longer-term shortage (two weeks or longer) will have severehealth consequences in many provinces. This will potentially placepatients' lives on hold.

Our highest priority is the health and safety of Canadians. We recognizethat you share this priority and we expect that you will ensure that AECLis working closely with the CNSC to expedite the completion of the safetycase under current consideration.

We are writing to you because we are very concerned about the impacts on the health of Canadians of the extended outage of the NRU at Chalk River, which supplies over 50% of Canada's and indeed the world's need for medical isotopes. We take this situation very seriously.

As a Government, we are analyzing on an ongoing basis the situation in almost 800 health care facilities across Canada to assess the extent, severity and implications of the shortage. Preliminary information has indicated that many institutions have very limited supplies and some centres are focusing on emergency patients only. Health implications include delays in diagnosis and therapy, focus on emergency and limited elective surgeries and increased wait times for diagnostic procedures. A longer-term shortage (two weeks or longer) will have severe health consequences in many provinces. This will potentially place patients' lives on hold.

In addition, our Government is examining all available avenues to expedite availability of Tc99m from alternative suppliers, examining all possible supplies of alternate isotopes, and convening an expert group to provide further advice on health impacts and mitigating strategies.

However, we clearly believe that the best solution for Canadians would be to have the NRU up and running again as expeditiously and safely as possible.

In our conversations, your technical experts acknowledged that the NRU has Operated safely for many decades and that re-starting the NRU in its current condition would entail no reduction in safety as compared to when it was operating before this shutdown. We further understand from AECL that one ofthe two backup pump power systems - which you recently mandated to mitigatethe risk of a potential earthquake - will be installed later tonight or tomorrow. This would be a clear further improvement in safety from November 21 when the reactor was shut down. AECL also informs us that it has submitted to you what it believes to be a strong case that the reactor can be operated safely with the backup power system connected for one of the two pumps.

In light of the above facts, we therefore seek an urgent explanation of whyyou believe it to be essential that both earthquake-proof power backup units be made operational immediately, notwithstanding the result that the health of Canadians and others around the world is being put at risk because of a shortage of isotopes. Why is the course you have chosen essential, as opposed to a more orderly upgrade process that might take, atmost, a few extra weeks, but which would allow isotope production to resumeuninterrupted?

The Nuclear Safety and Control Act allows you to take into account the use of nuclear substances, which would include isotopes for medical purposes, in regulating to ensure the health and safety of Canadians. We would like to note that any significant delays in restarting operations of the NRU Reactor will have consequences for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and heart disease. Dr. Brian Day, President of the Canadian Medical Association has indicated that the CMA is "very concerned about the impact on the health of Canadians and of all those reliant for isotopes on the NRUreactor. In balancing relative risk, it is important to ensure that the serious and immediate human health consequences of the isotope shortage arefully taken into account".

Our highest priority is the health and safety of Canadians. We believe it is imperative for you, in the context of your current powers, to ensure that the health and safety of all Canadians is taken into account in the decisions as to when to re-start the NRU. To this end, and given the circumstances set out above, we request that you employ all means to bring the NRU reactor back on-line safely, with due regard for the consequences of delay for those reliant on medical isotopes for disease diagnosis and treatment.

We look forward to your immediate response to this letter and your plan forhow to achieve the objectives noted.